The Gold Dust western fifth excited bidders for several reasons. It boasted loads of embossing, even with an embossed horse (which happened to depict a famous race horse of its time). It had a beautiful yellow olive coloration, with a ton of whittle and an applied top. The Gold Dust has become a “must-have” western fifth for serious collectors able to afford one.

The Gold Dust Kentucky Bourbon was a very popular brand from the moment it was introduced to the Pacific Slope by Barkhouse Bros. through their agent the John van Bergen Co. of San Francisco. The name is a natural for the early California and Nevada trade, it probably was a significant factor in the brand’s popularity. The Gold Dust name however, is in reference to the horse depicted in the trade mark, and of course embossed on the bottle.

Made up of two simultaneous releases of hand-crafted Bourbon from two time “Distiller of the Year” Heaven Hill Distilleries the dueling bottles will create the biggest buzz ever seen around a consumer product at election time.

No matter which side they’re on, voters can make a real party statement with America’s Native Spirit in the form of Red State and Blue State, a smooth-tasting Kentucky Bourbon. Labeled with America’s political party colors of Republican red and Democrat blue and featuring the famous elephant and donkey symbolsthese unique bottles will be available nationally beginning January 2012.

 ”During this topsy-turvy election year, we wanted to launch a fun and unique Bourbon brand that will be the life of both parties, as the race begins for the next President of the United States. What better way to, not only show your patriotic spirit, but kick back, relax and watch the action as the success of each brand becomes an entertaining results indicator of Election 2012,”

said Kate Latts, Director of Marketing at Heaven Hill Distilleries.

Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam assure that the quality of the Bourbon will be beyond debate. A product of America’s largest independent family-owned and operated distillery, and the second largest holders of aging American Whiskey in the world, Red State and Blue State Bourbon come from a tradition of American Whiskey making that goes back to the times of the very first elections. Made from the finest grains using the Master Distillers’ seven generation old family yeast strain, Red State and Blue State Bourbon will make any political conversation, more lively.

In addition, Heaven Hill Distilleries has announced it will be contributing a donation for every legal drinking age consumer that “likes” Red State or Blue State Bourbon on Facebook to the Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, making it an even more attractive choice for politically-savvy consumers. “We are pleased to be helping to support the good works of the VFW for our Armed Forces with Red State and Blue State,” noted Latts. “Donations will go toward the VFW Foundation’s Return the Favor campaign which honors, celebrates, and supports active-duty military, veterans and their families.”

For more information visit www.redbluebourbon.com .

The Bardstown Fire Department and state and federal environmental regulators treated the spill as a hazardous spill accident and responded similarly.

A dike pooled some of the spilled 180-proof alcohol, but a whole lot more spilled down a creek and into a lake at the rear of the building, Bardstown Fire Chief Anthony Mattingly said.

The spill was caused when a tanker full of the alcohol left a shutoff valve open letting the alcohol overflow into a containment area. Another valve had been opened to handle excess rain which let the spill reach the creek and lake.

occurred after a tanker delivered the alcohol to the distillery in Nelson County. A shutoff valve between a large tank and a smaller tank was left open, allowing the liquid to flow into the smaller tank, which then overflowed into a containment area, Mattingly said.

An environmental contractor helped mitigate the spill, the chief said.

The Maker’s Mark bottle is sealed with silver wax, and a scarlet label includes the university’s own seal and text about the national championship. The bottle is signed by Bill Samuels Jr., the distiller’s chairman emeritus. Samuels is a member of the university’s Board of Trustees and is leading Bellarmine’s $100 million capital campaign.

Bellarmine fans and bourbon collectors can obtain this limited-edition keepsake on Saturday, December 10, at 9 a.m., when Bellarmine will dispense with their remaining stock of the bottled sets, available for $200. The event takes place in Frazier Hall at the university’s George G. Brown Center, and proceeds benefit Bellarmine’s capital campaign, dubbed The 100 Million Dollar Question (www.100milliondollarquestion.org).

The brands have never before been available in the same package.

“The Samuels and Brown families go back a long way together in the whisky business,” said Samuels. “We can be fierce competitors, but we’re also close friends. Both families share the belief that a strong private university is critical to the region’s development, so if we’re going to have a strange bedfellow in this fundraising effort, I can’t think of a better one.”

“As master distiller for Woodford Reserve, I never thought I’d see the day when Woodford would be co-packed with Maker’s Mark, one of our fiercest competitors,” said Morris. “But as a graduate of Bellarmine University, I’m proud to join in helping my alma mater answer the 100 Million Dollar Question so that it can become the leading private university in our region.
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